Most young boys play with Toy Soldiers; some never stop! I'm proud to say that I am one that never has stopped. Toy Soldiers, painting the figures, history and miniature wargaming is what this site is all about.

Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles

Saturday, December 30, 2017

1. Correspondents. Well . . . someone has to write the blog. Continuing on with companies and individuals for In Her Majesty's Name.

Melton Prior

Bennet Burleigh watching the 14th Sikhs march out from a mission station in Chaimbelastan.

Frederic Villiers on horseback in the Batal Colony prior to the fight in Chaimbelastan.

2. The Sons of Astrograd: Since the discovery of the uncharted island name Astragard by the French dirigible Hyperion, the
lost Viking civilization that has been cut off from the rest of the
world for centuries is now making an impact at the end of the 19th
Century in the world of In Her Majesty's Name.

3. The Hidden Kingdom of Natagala. In 1890 the famous Professor George Nightengale accidentally discovered
the Hidden Kingdom of Natagala. Our hero journeyed up to the big curve
in the Merowe river that flowed out of Batal Colony and then
west into the Great Desert, where he eventually found a rich, primitive
culture in a hidden valley on the other side of the Great Desert; the
Kingdom of Natagala. Professor Nightengale theorizes that the Natagala
are related ethnically to the Matabele and Zulus.

The Noble Warriors of Natagala

4. Captain John H. Watson, Army Medical Corps. Before he met Sherlock Holmes John H. Watson received his medical degree from The London School of
Medicine and Dentistry, the University of London in 1878, and
subsequently being trained at Netley as an assistant surgeon in the
British Army. He joined British forces in India with the 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers as a captain before being attached to the 66th
(Berkshire) Regiment of Foot. Captain Watson saw service in the Second
Anglo-Afghan War and was wounded at the Battle of Maiwand (July 1880) by
a jezail bullet. Watson was almost killed in the long and arduous
retreat from the battle, but was saved by his orderly, Murray.

Captain John H. Watson, Army Medical Corps

5. Eating People is Wrong.One of the most dangerous encounters in and around the Lost City of Opar are the cannibals of Niam-Niam. The
term Niam-Niam appears to be of Dinka origin, meaning in that
language “great eaters,” with reference, as is supposed, to their
cannibalistic propensities. “These beings,” remarks the German explorer
Herr Doktor Professor von Sanders, on his first introduction to them,
“stood out like creatures of another world . . . a people of a marked
and most distinct nationality, and that in Africa and amongst Africans
is saying much.”

"Eating people is wrong!" exclaimed Theodore Roosevelt as he takes aim at the dangerous cannibals of Niam-Niam.

A cannibal war party.

6. German Imperial Marines and Schutztruppe.
Schutztruppe (literally "protection force") was the
official name of the colonial troops in the African territories of the
German colonial empire from the late 19th century. Similar to other
colonial armies, the Schutztruppe consisted of
volunteer European commissioned and non-commissioned officers, medical
and veterinary officers. Most enlisted ranks were generally recruited
locally.

German Imperial Marines protecting an ancient temple and artifacts from the troglodytes of the Witch King of Sokar.

7.The French Foreign Legion.
Some additional forces for In Her Majesty's Name include the famous
French Foreign Legion. Statistics for the Legion can be found in the
basic rules and the other forces I have added can easily be built using
the rules and annexes.

Professor Moebius and Col Kreiss

French Foreign Legion Company

7. Lady Poppington's Expedition. Sure, why not? The famous Lady Poppington's Expedition brought to light some of the famous adventuresses of 1895!

8. Various other characters and companies:

The Nightengale Expedition

Captain John Good

Quatermain and Umslopogaas.

Inspector Stanley Hopkins

Explorers

More Explorers!

In Part 3 we explore my adventure in 28mm in World War II and what happened in 1/72.

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

This is the second year that I developed a yearly plan for my hobby of painting and gaming accurate representations of historical and fantasy figures in miniature (what my wife refers to "Toy Soldiers or simply your toys"). This year I did not stick entirely to the plan as I conducted some mid year changes; the most important being was finally launching my own business of selling miniatures on eBay as Toy Soldiers and Dining Room Battles. So on to the year in review:

1. Finished my British Field Force for the 2nd Afghan War for the rules The Men Who Would Be Kings. Huzzah!

The British Field Force for TMWWBK

2. Start and finish an Afghan Regulars Field Force for the 2nd Afghan War for The Men Who Would Be Kings. Currently
I plan on doing 2 to 3 Afghan Army Infantry units, 1 to 2 Afghan Army
cavalry units, 1 to 2 Afghan Tribal units and 1 Afghan Army artillery
unit.

This did not go according to plan as I decided to sell the Afghan units I had painted on eBay. One day though!

3. Finally finish the last 2 cavalry units I need to for my King Arthur army for Dux Bellorum as the Saxons are starting to make inroads. Done! Huzzah!

Arthur and his "knights"

Light Cavalry

4. Some add on figures and maybe an additional company for "In Her Majesty's Name." Okay . . . as I love these rules there is no kill like an overkill. Not only did I paint a gazillion figures for this game I also decided to do the lost city of Opar:

Monday, December 25, 2017

The Birth of Jesus Christ

2 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered.2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria.3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town.4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David,5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth.7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

The Shepherds and the Angels

8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest,and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

15 When
the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one
another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has
happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger.17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child.18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

About Me

I'm a retired Colonel of Infantry (Regulars by God!) who likes to play with toy soldiers. I've been married to the love of my life since 1986, I have 5 honorable sons (my geeks in training), 3 daughters-in-law, 3 dogs, and a gazillion miniatures.
Hobbies include . . . wait for it . . . Toy Soldiers, Reading,
Wargaming, Reading about Toy Soldiers, History, Reading about Wargaming, Gardening, Reading about History and Reading.